do you have anything else going to the battery but not to the perko? like onboard charger or a courtesy light or a 12 volt cig lighter or some other potential draw? could be coming from something like that?

terrible ted wrote:just the basic set up no gps no radio. So what in the alt drained the bat. This happens just sitting not running.

Correct me if I am wrong but I just went through something like this with the alternator in order to convert a alternator to a single wire they connect inside the housing the hot wire to the coil to excite it I believe it is where you can loose a small amount of power that power excites the coils and this is how they bypass the regulator need.

terrible ted wrote:My system stared draining the batteries when the battery switch is left on.

I am open to suggestions.

My thought is to take out one thing at a time until I find the system that shorted?

I start with all the plugs for spot lights.

Disconnect the wires from your alternator and let it sit for the length of time it normally takes to drain the battery. If the battery is still up then you most likely have a blown diode in the alternator. This can be caused by using jumper cables improperly among other things. There can be other causes but this is the most common.

I'VE DONE SO MUCH WITH SO LITTLE FOR SO LONG, I CAN DO ANYTHING WITH NOTHING!

I do my wiring on a boat al little different than most .... use a locking Perko switch to completely isolate you battery from the rest of the electrical circuits on you boat when the engine is shut down.

"I know not what tomorrow may bring, but I know Who brings tomorrow."Member: KRVSA, FAA, TAA, and life member NRA and VFW

Olf Art wrote:I do my wiring on a boat al little different than most .... use a locking Perko switch to completely isolate you battery from the rest of the electrical circuits on you boat when the engine is shut down.

Last boat I mounted the switch on the top of the battery box - as in flush mounted it into the top of the plastic cover. This one I just make sure I use it often enough not to be an issue.... option b is better for everything.

I think you guys hit it right. The alternator was warm to the touch. I found it is A Suzuki Samurai. I will say the alternator in no way should be warm when nothing on but the battery switch. I see if the batteries are good tomorrow it only took a day or two to drain low enough not to crank.

Thanks.

I plan on redoing the wiring when I remodel my rigging but don't want to do that until after march.